''Sceloporus merriami'', commonly known as the canyon lizard, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the south-western United States and northern Mexico.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''merriami'', is in honor of American zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...
Clinton Hart Merriam.[Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', p. 176; ''S. m. ballingeri'', p. 15; ''S. m. sanojae'', p. 232; ''S. m. williamsi'', p. 286).]
Geographic range
''S. merriami'' is found in the United States in the state of Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, and it is found in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to:
Places
*Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state
**Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state
**Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state
**Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state
**Chihuahua Mun ...
, Coahuila
Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico.
Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...
, Durango
Durango (), officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Durango; Tepehuán: ''Korian''; Nahuatl: ''Tepēhuahcān''), is one of the 31 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in ...
,[ and ]Nuevo León
Nuevo León () is a state in the northeast region of Mexico. The state was named after the New Kingdom of León, an administrative territory from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, itself was named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León. With a ...
.[
]
Description
Adults of ''S. merriami'' may reach 58 mm (2.2 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). Including the tail, they may reach 162 mm (6.4 in) in total length. The dorsal scales are small, and the lateral scales are granular.
Dorsally, the canyon lizard is gray, tan, or reddish-brown, matching the rocks on which it lives. There are four rows of dark spots on the back, and a vertical black line in front of the front leg. Males have blue and black lines on the throat.[ Conant R (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48. (paperback). (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 106–107 + Plate 16 + Map 62).]
Subspecies
The seven recognized subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of ''S. merriami'', including the nominotypical subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
, are:[
*'']Sceloporus merriami annulatus
''Sceloporus merriami annulatus'', commonly known as the Big Bend canyon lizard, is a subspecies of the Sceloporus merriami, canyon lizard, and is Endemism, endemic to southwestern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico.
Etymology
The subspecif ...
'' H.M. Smith, 1937 – Big Bend canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami australis'' K.L. Williams, H.M. Smith & Chrapliwy, 1960 – southeastern canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami ballingeri'' Lemos-Espinal, H.M. Smith, Auth & Chiszar, 2001 – Ballinger's canyon lizard[
*'']Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus
''Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus'', commonly known as the Presidio canyon lizard, is a subspecies of the canyon lizard, and is endemic to southwestern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is unknown if it interbreeds with the other subspecies ...
'' Olson Olson may refer to:
* Olson (surname), people with the name ''Olson''
* Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
* Olson (constructor), a former racing car constructor
* Olson database, also known as ''zoneinfo database''
* "Olson", a song by Boards o ...
, 1973 – Presidio canyon lizard
*'' Sceloporus merriami merriami'' Stejneger
Leonhard Hess Stejneger (30 October 1851 – 28 February 1943) was a Norwegian-born American ornithologist, herpetologist and zoologist. Stejneger specialized in vertebrate natural history studies. He gained his greatest reputation with reptiles ...
, 1904 – Merriam's canyon lizard[
*'' Sceloporus merriami williamsi'' Lemos-Espinal, Chiszar & H.M. Smith, 2000 – Williams' canyon lizard]
References
Further reading
* Behler JL, King FW (1979). ''The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 524–525 + Plate 368).
* Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. 47 plates, 207 figures. . (''Sceloporus merriami'', pp. 296–297, Figure 141 + Plate 27).
* Stejneger L (1904). "A New Lizard from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas". ''Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington'' 17: 17–20. (''Sceloporus merriami'', new species).
*Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). ''A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (''Sceloporus merriami'', p. 55).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4892876
Sceloporus
Reptiles of Mexico
Reptiles of the United States
Reptiles described in 1904
Taxa named by Leonhard Stejneger